Permanent mold for casting aluminum stud chain links



April 1965 J. s. NELSON 3,176,357

PERMANENT MOLD FOR CASTING ALUMINUM STUD CHAIN LINKS Filed April 27, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JOHN .S. NELSON WWW ATTORNEYS April 6, 1965 J. 5. NELSON 3,176,357

PERMANENT MOLD FOR CASTING ALUMINUM STUD CHAIN LINKS Filed April 27, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JOHN S. NEL5ON BYMAW ATTORNEY5 United States Patent 3,176,357 PERMANENT MOLD FOR CASTING ALUlviINUlt i STUD (IHAIN LINKS John 5. Nelson, 249 Hertel Ave., Buffalo, N.Y. Filed Apr. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 190,642 Claims. (Cl. 22-1?J7) This invention relates to the manufacture of chains and chain links. The invention is more particularly concerned with a permanent mold for casting stud link chains.

The invention constitutes an improved permanent mold structure over my prior molds as described and claimed in US. Patent 2,786,248. In my prior patent there is illustrated and described a permanent mold for casting chain stud links of aluminum or bronze. The improved permanent mold of this invention distinguishes therefrom in the following important and essential features.

l) The permanent mold is useful for casting stud links of various metals and alloys regardless of the shrinkage and physical characteristics of the casting metal.

(2) By reason of the off-set structure of the complementary mold block faces defining the chain link cavity, as hereinafter described, which provides for rapid release of gases from the mold cavities during casting, the mold is much more versatile in use. The mold may be used for casting large diameter chain links, e.g. links having a length of two to three feet and cross-section of six to eight inches, and such as anchor chains which are used for heavy duty work. Similarly, the permanent mold is adapted for casting small size stud link chains.

(3) The permanent molds of the invention make possible the casting of beryllium-copper stud links of increased tensile strength. For example, stud link chains made of beryllium copper employing the improved molds of my invention had a tensile strength of 170,000 pounds/ sq. inch. This is contrasted with the same size stud link chains manufactured by conventional molds which had a tensile strength of only 70,000 lbs/sq. in. This difference of 100,000 lbs/sq. in. in T.S. represents a T.S. gain of approximately 150% over conventionally cast chains.

(4) The mold construction having the recess provision or olfset mold cavity structure which is in communication with multiple vents around the mold cavity permits the casting to be carried out at twice the rate using prior mold structures. Castings are completed in 5 to 6 seconds with beryllium-copper alloys, and 6 to 7 seconds in the use of aluminum alloy metals.

(5) High shrinkage casting metal alloys are readily cast into chain links, and the permanent molds are usable for over a thousand times without repair or replacement. Due to the speed at which the castings can be made, shrinkage, cracking and sticking of the mold parts is eliminated by the improved mold structures.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved permanent mold for use in the casting of stud chain links.

Another object of the invention is to provide a permanent mold which permits the casting of stud links whereby the same are interconnected to a pair of similar precast stud links whereby a chain of such stud links is expeditiously produced and providing a stud link chain of any desired length.

A further object of the invention is to provide a multiple part mold which is made of permanent material such as metal, for example alloy steel as aforementioned, and

' which can be both rapidly assembled preparatory to the p casting operation and quickly disassembled after congealing of the metal in the mold to free the stud link after it j has been cast, the mold being used again and again to cast the stud links.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the drawings in which- FIGURE 1 is a perspective view in elevation of a permanent mold embodying my invention and showing the mold open and preparatory to casting an interconnecting stud link of a chain, the mold and associated mechanism for opening and closing the mold being shown partly broken away;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded view in perspective of two of the mold sections which are adapted to be fitted together during use of the mold for casting;

FIGURE 3 is a similar view as in FIGURE 2, and illustrating the complementary mold sections and depicting the mold cavity configuration, the mold blocks being fitted together to form the mold cavity for casting a stud link; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view illustrating a cast stud link, the link being shown partially in section.

Referring more particularly to FIGURES 1 to 3 of the drawings, a permanent mold embodying my invention is shown as having four complementary parts or blocks 10, 11, 12, and 13. The mold blocks each are shaped to comprise a portion of a mold cavity which when fitted together defines a stud link mold cavity. The lower mold block 11 is held stationary, the same being fixedly arranged on a supporting base 15, as shown in FIGURE 1. The mold blocks 10, 12 and 13 are adapted to be moved rectilinearly of the base 15 to close the mold parts and form the mold cavity 17. Further, as illustrated in FIG- URE l, the top mold blocks and 12 are adapted to slidably engage the upper surfaces of the bottom mold blocks 11 and 13.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the movable mold blocks 10, 12 and 13 are advanced or retracted by a piston arm member 19 located at one end of the base and a like actuated arm 20 disposed at the opposite end. Where desired, opening and closing of the mold may be accomplished manually by reciprocation of the lever arm 21. The latter arm is connected through a pivot 22 to an abutment 23 which in turn is secured to a movable wall 24. Closing and opening of the mold is preferably carried out utilizing compressed air and the piston and cylinder means. I-Iydraulically actuated means may be used if desired as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

To assure accurate registry of the mold complementary blocks, the same are fitted with dowel pins 25, 26, 27 and 28, as illustrated in FIGURE 2. These dowel pins fit into the complementary mold apertures 25', 26, 27' and 28' respectively whereby accurate registration of the same is assured. Further, the coacting mold surfaces are carefully machined to close tolerances whereby the mold cavity is sharply defined. The mold faces which engage together are provided with complementary mold cavities. Such partial cavities are shown at 30 on mold 11, and at 31 on mold 13. Similar complementary cavities are shown on molds 10 and 12, at 32 and 33 respectively.

The mold cavity in the mold blocks also includes a gate 35 which is suitably shaped by the complementary mold blocks 10 and 12. This gate communicates with the main chain stud link mold cavity 36 by means of a tapered flared neck 37. The neck portion 37 is flared outwardly near the junction with the main stud link mold cavity, as at 38, to provide a strengthened cast jointure and prevent cracking of the casting at the neck or flared section.

To permit ready release of air trapped in the mold there is provided a multiplicity of vents such as shown at 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, and 46, the vents being placed at each curved section and at the highest point of radius of curvature in the chain link mold cavity. The vents i 7 a 7 allow air and gases in the mold cavityto be quickly forced outof the mold through the multi-vents upon in: troduction of the molten metal. Any even minor trapping. ofgasesin the mold results in the productionof a.

defecti PQIQJS a Rapid and unobstructed v release of the gases from the mold cavity is achieved by raising or offsetting of the mold face portions as at 47 and148, adjacent to the vent openings. The vents communicate with the opening or slot as indicated at 50, formed between the mold blocks when the same are fitted together for casting a chain link. Complementary mold parts 10and 11 fit snugly against the mold faces 47 and 48and leaving'an openingslot as at 52 and 53 between the mold blocks Hand 13. This recessedopening orslot SGpreferably is .on the order of to thousandths of an inch depending upon the size of the mold.

The improved vent construction of mold parts constitutes one ,of the important features of my. permanent mold structure. Casting of stud links-oflight metals such have beenvepy difiicult because of thev shrinkageand .20 as aluminum, magnesium, and alloys thereof, as well as beryllium copper, steel, or precious metals heretofore venting problems. In accordance with-my invention and utilizing the improved permanent-mold ofthefstructur e illustrated and described, this problem has been solved.

As illustrated in FIGURE} the mold cavity is disposed whereby moltenjmetal enters through the gate or open-1 ing centrally of the stud linkmold cavity, with; the mgldblocks being separablefour ways, e.g. two in the top half'andptwo in-the bottom halfof the mold cavity.

ing the central longitudinal axes'of the stud link.

Uniformly cast high tensile strength :chain links are made possible because ofthe multiple venting of the mold cavity which communicate s'with a recess opening between the mold blocks as described. It is essential to provide a gate and interconnected neck'portion which is flaredoutwardly at the junction of the neck with the mold.

link cavity as illustrated in FIGURE 3. Such a wide 7 neck jointure permits molten metal upon shrinking during casting to forma strong section and eliminate cracking of the casting. After removal of the cast chain linkv the gate and neck portion are machined off to produce a smooth finished stud link casting.

In the making of chains of a desired length it will be Separationof the-mold is provided along a line represent- 1 l proved structnre features for castingstud chain links from various metals and especially high shrinkage metals i and'alloys. Having thus described my invention what is claimed is:

l. A permanent mold for casting stud link chain links of highjtensile strength alloy metal, said mold com-prising two pairs of separable mold blocks having complementary mold cavities, said mold blocks being 'slidably fitted together whereby their opposing mold cavity faces meet and extend vertically defining a mold cavity for casting stud links, a gate having an integral wide neck portion communicating with said mold cavity through which molten metal is introduced thereinto, said mold block faces defining said mold cavity being'raised above andzoffset fronrthe surface of the mold block face to provide a recessed opening slot between said mold blocks to efiect rapid release of gas from the mold cavity during casting, and.means comprising vents spacedly disposed about and communicating with difierent areas of said mold cavity and connected with 'saidfirecessed opening slot.

2. A. permanent mold for casting stud link chain links of high tensile strength 'alloy metal, said mold comprising two pairs ofyseparable mold blockshaving complementary mold cavities, said mold blocks being slidably fitted togetherwhereby their opposing mold cavity faces meet andextend verticallydefining a mold'cavity for casting stud links, a gate having an integral wide'n'eckI portion cornmunicatingvvith said. mold cavity through which molten metal" is introduced thereinto, said mold block faces defining said mold cavity being raisedabove and connected with said, recessed opening slot, and means comprising a horizontallyreciprocable arm member connected to, a mold block for moving the mold block horizontally from an advanced position to 'a retracted position for quicklyassembling andJdiSasSembIing said mold.

3. A permanent mold for casting stud link chain links 7 of high tensile strength alloy metal, said moldlcomprising understood that single stud links are cast and then'two 0 links connected with a cast link, as illustrated in FIG- UREI. i

Utilizing the permanent molds of the. improved structure illustrated, it is possible to cast stud links and manufacture chains of various metals and alloys having high shrinkage characteristics, and which heretofore could not be satisfactorily cast in permanent molds, particularly as stud links. This difiiculty was a result of the shrinkage of the casting which produced cracks and imperfections to accurate tolerances and when fitted together form the thus makingthe casting operation of little value coni- '-mercially. e

The permanent mold of the present invention is provided with interfittingmold blocks which are machined.

stud link mold cavity for receiving the moltenwmetal.

After pouringthe metal, the mold parts are quickly disassembledafter S te 8 'seconds,;a nd immediatelyupon congealing-of the molten metallto produce 'a sound castf ing. Stud links can be cast again and again usingthe 4- way split mold. In casting high shrinkage metals and alloys such as aforementioned. without encountering V cracking and porosity difficulties by the use of ,my' in 1 vention. The invention provides notonly a permanent mold for casting stud link chains butdue to the construction anddesi'gn of the'mold-the same may be used over and over again to produce sound crack-freeing casting.

By the foregoing description it will'be understood that I have provided a novel permanent mold having"im-' two pairs of separable mold blocks having complementary mold'cavities, said mold blocks being slidably fitted to- 'gether whereby their opposing mold cavity faces meet and extend vertically defining a rnold cavity for casting stud links,= saidfmold block faces defining said mold cavity being raised above .and oifset from the surface .of the -mold block face to provide a recessed opening slot between said mold blocks, vents in said mold cavities conne'cted to said recessed'opening slot to provide for rapid release of gas from the mold cavity during casting, and means comprising a gate shaped by said complementary mold blocks which communicates with said mold cavity through whichmolten m'etal is passed into the mold cavity, said gate'havinga tapered flared outward neck portion at the junction of the .same with said mold-cavity, said flared neck portion. forming a. wide neck. jointure providing a'reinforced section which resists. cracking upon shrinking ofthe casting.

4. A permanent. mold for casting stud link chain links of high tensile strength alloy metal, :said mold comprising two pairs of separablemold blocks: having complementary mold cavities, said ,mold blocks beingslidably fitted .toigether whereby their opposing mold cavity faces. meet and 'extendvertically' definingQa mold cavity for casting stud'links, said mold'block faces defining said mold cavity being raised above andiotfsetfromlthe jsurface ofthe 'mold block face to. pr'ovide'a recessed opening slot between saidmoldLblocks, vmeans comprising vents spacedly 'ldispos ed-about and communicating with said mold cavity and'which are connected'to said recessed slot for providing quick release of gasesfrom the mold cavity during .casting, and means comprising a gate shaped by said complementary mold blocks which communicates with said mold cavity through which molten metal is passed into the mold cavity, said gate having a tapered flared outward neck at the junction of the same with said mold cavity providing a reinforced section which resists cracking upon shrinking of the casting.

5. A permanent mold for casting stud link chain links of high tensile strength beryllium copper alloy metal, said mold comprising two pairs of separable mold blocks having complementary mold cavities, said mold blocks being slidably fitted together whereby their opposing mold cavity faces meet and extend vertically defining a mold cavity for casting stud links, said mold block faces defining said mold cavity being raised above and offset from the surface of the mold block face to provide a recessed opening slot between said mold blocks, means comprising vents spacedly disposed about and communicating with said mold cavity and which are connected to said recessed opening slot to provide for rapid release of gas from the mold cavity during casting, means comprising a piston actuated arm member connected to a mold block to move the same rectilinearly back and forth from an References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 53,993 4/66 Leflier 22-183 449,256 3/91 Lang l842 1,920,578 8/33 Matzow 22-137 2,710,990 6/55 Halstead et a1 18-42 2,764,790 10/56 Nelson 22-137 2,786,248 3/57 Nelson 22137 2,957,215 10/60 Nelson 22--137 WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT F. WHITE, NEDWIN BERGER, MICHAEL V. BRINDISI, Examiners. 

1. A PERMANENT MOLD FOR CASTING STUD LINK CHAIN LINKS OF HIGH TENSIL STRENGTH ALLOY METAL, SAID MOLD COMPRISING TWO PAIRS OF SEPARABLE MOLD BLOCKS HAVING COMPLEMENTARY MOLD CAVITIES, SAID MOLD BLOCKS BEING SLIDABLY FITTED TOGETHER WHEREBY THEIR OPPOSING MOLD CAVITY FACES MEET AND EXTEND VERTICALLY DEFINING A MOLD CAVITY FOR CASTING STUD LINKS, A GATE HAVING AN INTEGRAL WIDE NECK PORTION COMMUNICATING WITH SAID MOLD CAVITY THROUGH WHICH MOLTEN METAL IS INTRODUCED THEREINTO, SAID MOLD BLOCK FACES DEFINING SAID MOLD CAVITY BEING RAISED ABOVE AND OFFSET FROM THE SURFACE OF THE MOLD BLOCK FACE TO PROVIDE A RECESSED OPENING SLOT BETWEEN SAID MOLD BLOCKS 